Year-round air conditioning system



Nov.

' J. M. LEDNUM YEAR-ROUND AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM Filed may 4; 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet l Nov. 15, 1938.

J. M. LDNUM' YEARROUND AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM Filedmay 4, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 l Patented`Ncv. 1938 i i f U'Ni'rsuA-sT-ATES' PATi-:Nfr oi-ricsV smz'cliiiliriomc srs'rim i .i i

James M. miam, Baltimore, in., saigner, by

mesne assignments,-to vThe Davison Chemical Corporation, Baltimore, Md., a corporation Maryland 1 Application Mays, issarseriai No. issu z calm. `(ci. iss-4i The present invention relates to systems for conditioning air'siipplied to a space such as a room. house, auditorium or the like. More particularly it relates tol systems for year-round operation, and of the type employing an adsorber charged with a solid porous moisture adsorbent material such as silica gel, activated alumina, activated carbon or the like. In such systems, usually, the adsorber containing the solidmoisture adsorbent material may be regenerated or activated by heat. Some of the a-ir fed to the space to be conditioned is intensely dried by passing through such material. It is then mixed with air withdrawn Y vfrom the space, and the mixture is cooled .and introduced into the space. If desired, the dried air, afterlt leaves the adsorbent may have its temperature lowered by passing the same through an after cooler. Any suitable source df heat is provided for regenerating or activating the adsorber.

One of the objects of the present invention is to providea simple system of this type that requires. a vminimum capital investment and minimum operating costs. v

Another object is toutilize the device thatv furnishes heat toactivate the moisture ad.

i v sorbent when in operation during the sumner,

for the purpose of heating the air supplied to the space in winter, the adsorber being inoperative in winter. f

Another object-of the invention is to utilize the after cooler, for winter operation, to heat water and supply the same to the main cooler to be used to heat air introduced into the space.

Another' object of the invention is to `employ v a boiler asa source of heat-and use the combustion gases therefrom to heat air to activate thesdsorber in summer, and in winter use'hot water from the boiler in the main cooler to heat the air introduced into the pace. e

Another object of the invention Lato-heat air to activate the adsorber in the summer time and in winter use the hot air in -a heater to Y' raise; the temperature oi theair introduced into the space.

- Another object is'to provide an airl heater" heated by hot combustion gases to furnish hot air for activation in summer, and in winter to space.

Another object of the invention is to employ combustion gases from a furnace to activate the` adsorber in summenand'in winter-tc `heat a use this same heater to heat air supplied tothe heater through'which air supplied to the space is passed. l

Another object isv to use a single cooler to act as an after cooler and a'maincooler.

Another object is to use the combustion gases from a boiler to activate the adsorber in summer and in winter employ hot water fromthe `boiler 'to heatthe cooler and raise the temperature of air supplied to rthe space.

. Other objects-and features of novelty will be apparent from the description taken in connection with the drawings in which:

\ -Fig. 'l is a schematic or diagrammatic viewv tion employing a porous solid adsorbent material capabletof drying air by adsorbing moisture therefrom whether the moisture .be presentas a vapor or in other form. The adsorbent should` act to dehydrate the air continuously. that is to say, without interruption. For this purpose one lknowrforrn of adsorber 'comprises two units having stationary beds of adsorbent, each unit alternating with the other on the adsorption and activation phases of its cycle. In another known form the bed of adsorbent is rotated sa that successive portions are subjected first tc the adsorption phase and then to the activation phase. v

In the mures of the drawings, dampers are shown in full lines for the positionathey assume during summer operation. If the adjustment is changed for winter, the latter positions are shown in dotted lines. I

Referring to the form ci' the invention illustrated in '.Fig. 1, air to be dried is supplied through the duct il to blower il which delivers through the adsorber I2. r"As previously stated. the adsorber contains a the same for e porous solid adsorbent material capable of dehydrating air, suoliV as silica gel, activated alumina, activated carbon or the like. The dried air discharged from the adsorber is conveyed by a duct it to an after cooler Il of any suitfable type wherein the temperature of the air, which has been raised by the 'dehydratiomuis it by duct 20 livered into the conduit I5.at a point between the after cooler I4 and the main cooler I9 where it mixes with the dehydrated air from the adsorber. A suitable damper 23fmay be provided in duct 22 to control the flow of air therein.

Normally this valve isgopen during both summer v and winter operation.

Suitable dampers 24 and 25 may be provided in the conduits I3 and I6 respectively for a purpose presently to be described.

In order to activate or regenerate the .ad-v

sorbent in the adsorber, a heater 26 is provided to heat air, the hot air being discharged through ducts 2l and 28 and thence through the adsorber to duct 29 which connects with duct 30 supplying the ian 3|. The exhaust from this fan may be discharged into the atmosphere through duct 32.

Coolers I4 and I9 are provided withveooling coils 33 and 34 respectively. Cooling water is supplied through pipe 35, the flow being controlled by valve 36. In summer operation, this cooling water from pipe 35 is discharged into pipe 3l that supplies coil 34 of the main cooler I9. From this coil the water is discharged `through pipes 38 and 38to a pump 40 which supplies cooling coil 33 42. The valve 43 is disposed in pipe 4i to control the ow. From coil 33 water is discharged through pipes 44 and 45 to waste, the valve #i6 being provided in pipe 45. Pipes`44 and 31 are connected by a pipe 41 having a valve 48 therein. For summer operation, valves 36, 43 and 46 are opened, and valves 48 and 43 closed. The cooling water therefore passes through the main cooler first, thence to pump 48, thence to the after cooler i4, and nally to waste.

For Winter the adsorber is inoperative and water is heated in the after cooler i4 and supplied to the main cooler I 9 so that the latter becomes a heater for heating air supplied to the conditioned area. in winter operation, dampers 50 and 5I in ducts 29 and 28 respectively are closed, and damper 52 in duct 53 is opened. Hot air from the activating air heater 26 is taken from duct 2l, by open damper 5d in duct 55, and passes through 'the cooler M to heat water in the coil 33? The air is discharged from the cooler through ducts i5, 53 and 30 and fan 3i, damper 52 being open.

For winter the coolers and connecting pipes are filled with water, and supply valve 36 closed. Valves Mi and 43 are opened and valves 46 and d8 closed. Cin' culation is then from coil 33 vtot coil 34, through pipes 38 and 39 to pump in and pipe 4i, back to coil 33.

In summer operation, if the cooling water is supplied under any pressure, pump Sii .need not be operated. Then valve li is closed and valve 49 opened, and the flow is irom pipe il@ through pipe 56 to pipe' G2. K

In the form of the invention illustrated in Fig. 2, air to be dehydrated is supplied through duct i0 and blower il to the adsorber i2. De

` hydrated air discharged from the adsorber passes through duct or conduit 68, through after cooler through pipes 4I and operation the coils 33 and @il of 6I of any suitable type, duct 62, and blower 63 from which it is` discharged through duct 64, main cooler 65, and duct 66 into the conditioned area 2|.

Air is Withdrawn from the conditioned area through duct 61 and supplied to duct 62, a damper 68 being disposed in this duct and being normally open during both summer and Winter operation.

To activate oruregenerate the adsorbent .in thev adsorber, hot air is employed. For this purpose i a boiler 69 supplies hot water to the heating coil 'I0 of the air heater 'II through pipe 12,'the return being by way of pipe 13. Suitable valves 'i4 and I5 are provided in the pipes I2 and 73 respectively. Air passes through the heater 'M and is'delivered by duct I6 through the adsorbent to be activated, and thence through duct 'Il to the activating fan 18, which discharges into the atmosphere through a duct 19.

The cooling'coil 80 of the main cooler is supplied with Water through pipe 8| controlled byvalve 82. From the coil 80, the water ows through pipes 83 and 84 to the cooling coil 85 of the after cooler 6I, and is discharged to waste through pipe 86. A valve 8l is provided in pipe 84 to control the iiow therein.

For winter, the adsorber is inoperative, and damper 88 in duct 62 is closed so that air is withdrawn from the conditioned area through duct 6l, and passed through the main cooler 55 which is converted into a heater to raise the temperature of the air supplied to the conditioned space. Y

To change the cooler 65 to a heater, valves 82 and 8l are closed and hot water is supplied to the coil from the boiler through pipe 89, valve 98 therein being open and also valve 9i. Frorn pipe 89 the hot water is supplied to coil B8 through pipe 92. 'I'he water is returned from the coil by way of pipe 93, the valve 94 therein being open. -For summer operation, valves Bil, 9i and 94 are closed. For winter operation, valves 82, 81, 'i4 and 'I5 are closed.

In the form of the invention illustrated by Fig, 3, the air to be dehydrated is supplied 'through duct i8 to a blower il which discharges through the adsorber i2 into a duct or conduit lill). This leads to after cooler lili of suitable type through which the dehydrated air passes and is delivered by ducts E82, itil, iii@ and ill through a heater it, (inoperative during summer) and thence by duct it''l through the main. cooler lil@ and duct i8@ to the conditioned area 2i. Airis Withdrawn from the conditioned space through duct iii) and discharged into duct i855, a damper iii being provided in this duct and being normally open for both summer and winter operation. A damper i112 is supplied in duct M53, which is opened for summer operation.

During summer the coil M3 of the main cooler 958 is supplied with Water from pipe iifl haw ing a valve iiii therein. From the coil iil water flows through the pipe ii to the coil ill! of the after cooler mi, the discharge being through pipe iid to waste.

To activate the adsorbent in the adsorber, hot air from an air heater itil is conducted by yducts iii@ and i2@ through the adsorbent and 'then by way of ducts H22 and i223 to the activating ian 324 which discharges to atmosphere. Damper H25 is provided in duct I2I which, for summer operation is opened and for winter operation is closed. A damper |26 is' provided in duct H22,

:A ,arias-,lensA and is opened for summer operation and for winter operation. v

For winter the adsorber is Vthat air is withdrawn from'the conditioned area,

passed through a heater |06, and returned to the conditioned space. If desired, outside air may be added through duct |21, controlled by damper |28. The heater |06gisheated by hot air supplied from -the activating" air heater ||5v through ducts |28 and |30. 'The heatedjair discharged trom the heater |06 flows through duct |3| to duct |23 and fan |24. A damper |32 lis provided in the duct |3| `andis closed for summer operation and opened for winter operation.

In the form of the invention shown in Fig. g air to be dehydrated is supplied through duct l to blower and passes -througii'the adsorber |2. The dehydrated air is discharged through duct |50, the after cooler ducts |52 and |53 to fan |54, thence through duct |55, the main 'cooler |56 and duct 51 to th conditiordareall. is withdrawn from the conditioned space through duct |56 and discharged i'nto duct |53 where it v inoperative and also I 4 the coolers |0| and |08. Damper ||2`is closed so mer operation, dampers 280, 2|l and 2li are open l Air from the conditioned area is withdrawn through duct'2 i2, having damper 2|3 therein and supplied to duct204 where it mixes with the dehydrated air. For summer operation damper 2|3 is opened but is closed during winter.

Cooling water is supplied to coil 2|4 of the main` cooler1201 through a pipe 2|5, having va valve 2 |6 thereinwFrom. coil 2 |4, the water .flows through pipe 2|1 to thevcoil .2|8 of the after .cooler 25|, and is dischargedV through pipe 2|3.

For purposes of activating adsorbent in the adsorber, hot. combustion gases are passed through `the same. From a furnace 220, the h ot combustion gases ilow through ducts 22| and 222 to the adsorber, from which they pass through duct 223 to the activating fan 224 that v discharges into the-atmosphere. Adafnper- 225 mixes with the dehydrated air,'a suitable damper |58 being provided in duct |58. This damper is normally open for both summer and wi ter operation. Dampers |60 and |6| are pro ded in ducts |52 and |55 respectively. For summeroperation these dampers are opened-but are closed, for winter operation.

Cooling water is supplied to the coil |62 vof cooler |56 through pipe |63, having a valve |64 therein. From coil |62, the water is discharged coolerv |5|, from which it flows to waste through pipe |61.

Adsorbent in the adsorber is activated by hot air supplied from heater |68. Heat is furnished for the heater by the combustion gases from a furnace |68, which are delivered to the heater by duct-| and discharged therefrom by a duct |1|. 'I'he air to be heated and used for activation is supplied through a duct |12 having a damper |13 therein, which is opened in summer and closed `in winter. Fromduct |12, the air passes through the heater |68 wherein its temperature is raised and then throughA ducts |14 and |15, the

2 adsorberA l2, fan |16 and discharge duct |11. 'A

damper |18 is disposed in duct |15 and is opened for summer operation and vclosed for winter.

During winter the adsorber is inoperative, and

also the coolers |5| and |56, and means is pro- -videdto heat the air supplied to the conditioned space. For this-purpose, damper |60 is'closed.

and air withdrawn from the conditioned space flows through ducts |58 and |53 to fan |54, thence by damper |19 in duct l|80 to duct |12, damper |13 being closed for winter operation. The air then ows through duct |12, the heater |68, duct |14, duct |8I, duct |51, and thence into the conditioned space. Dampers |18 and |8| are closed for this winter operation, and the damper |82 in duct |'8I is opened, the same being closed for summer operation.

, In the form of theinvention illustrated in Fig.l

5, air to be" dehydrated is `supplied through duct I0 to ian which discharges the same through the adi-,orner lz, thence through aucune to after cooler 20|, through ducts 202. 203 and 204 to fan 205. The fan discharges through a duct 205 to the main cooler 201 from which conditioned airv isisupplied by duct 208 to the conditioned area' 42|. Dampers 208, 2|0 and 2|| are disposed in ducts 202, 203and 200 respectively. For sumis located in duct 222 and is opened for summer operation and closed during winter.

For winter operation, the adsorber is not used nor the coolers 20| and 201.` However, air is withdrawn from the conditioned space and heated and returned to the same, mixed, if def sired, with fresh air. To raise the temperature of' this air, the hot combustion gases -from the furnace 220 are passed through duct 226 to heater 221, and then discharged to atmosphere, damper 225 being closed and A22|' opened. Air to be heated is. withdrawn from the conditioned area through duct 2|2, vand supplied^to the heater i through duct 228, a damper 229 being disposed in this latter duct. During summer this damper is closed, but is opened for winter operation. If

desired, some fresh air may be supplied to`duct v 226`through duct 230 controlled'by damper 23|.

vditioned area through 'duct 206.

` summer.

From heater 221 the hot air passes through duct 232 into,v duct 202, a damper 233 therein being opened for winter operation and closed during The hot air then passes through ducts 203, 204, 205,.bypass 234, and thence to the con- In order to cause the air to iiow through the by-pass,'damper 2|| is` closed andA damper 235 in duct 234 is opened, this damperbeing closed during summer.

In the form of theinvention illustrated in Fig. 6 airto be dehydrated 'is supplied through duct |"p to fan Il, which discharges the same through the adsorber |2. Dehydrated air hows through ducts 258 and 25| to fan252 which, through duct 255, discharges through the cooler' 254. The cooled air then ilows through duct 255 into conditioned area 2|. A damper. 256 is provided in duct 26|, the same being opened for summer operation. and closedduring winter. Air may be withdrawn from the conditioned space through duct 261 and supplied to duct 26|, where it is mixed uwith the dehydrated air, the damper 258 being provided to control the ilow therein.

The adsorbent material in the adsorber may be .activated by hot combustion gases supplied from employed for both the dehydrated and recircudamper a furnace 255. For'this purpose, duct 260 Vconducts the gases to a duct 26|. thence through the lated air. AThis cooler may be of any suitable Where water is employed as the coolingA medium, the coil 281 of the cooler may be supplied with cooling water through pipe 268. having valve 269 therein. the discharge being through pipes 210 and 21|, the latter having valve 212 therein.

During winter the adsorber is inoperative, and the cooler is used as a heater to raise the temperature of the air supplied to the conditioned area. As shown, the coil 261 of the cooler is connected with boiler 259 by pipes 213 and 216 provided with valves 215 and 216 respectively. During summer operation these Valves are closed, but are opened for winter operation and valves 263 and 212 are closed. Hot water or steam from the boiler 259 flows through pipe 213 to the coll 261 and returns by pipe 214.

If desired, during winter operation, fresh outside air may be supplied through duct 211, having a damper 216 therein that is closed during summer operation.

In all forms of the invention described, if desired, some or alltof the air withdrawn from the conditioned area may be dehydrated. For this purpose, in each of the figures, the duct connecting with the conditioned area for withdraw-l ing air therefrom is shown as being in communication With the air inlet duct |0 through a duct 300, having a damper 30| therein, by means o1' which the amount of recirculated air to be dehydrated may be controlled.

From the description ofthe various forms of the invention, it is apparent, for summer operation that fresh air is dehydrated, cooled, mixed with return air, and the mixture is cooled and introduced into the space to be conditioned. In one form the two coolers are combined. The dehydratormeans is activated or regenerated by hot air or hot combustion gases.

During winter, the adsorber is inoperative, but

,m heat from the source of heat supply for summer operation is used to raise the temperature of air supplied to the space, and the heat interchanger employed as a cooler in summer time is used as a heater. y

As previously stated, in all forms of the system the adsorber is yinoperative during winter.

Dampers 25, 68, I|2, |60, 209 and 256 are closed and a second cooler in said conduit in the order named, a recirculating duct connected with said apparatus `between the said coolers, and means-to selectively pass hot combustion gases through the adsorber or through the after cooler to heat a fluid therein and supply it to heat the second cooler. v

2. The combination 'with a space to be conditioned, a conduit for supplying air thereto, a water vapor adsorber in said conduit, a heat exchanger in said conduit to cool the air discharged from said adsorber, a recirculating duct connected to said conduit between said exchanger and space, a second heat interchanger in said conduit between the junction thereof with the duct and said space, a source of heated gas, piping and valves to selectively deliver said gas to activate said adsorber or to heat said rst interchanger, a source of cooling iluid, piping to deliver said cooling fluid to both said interchangers when the adsorber is in operation and further piping to conduct uid in a closed circuit between said interchangers when one is being heated.

JAMES M. LEDNUM. 

